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lou_loo's review against another edition
I just decided to continue the digital version, without the audio.
logophile_life's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
goldripred's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
It was entertaining in some parts. Like the gambling of horses by "noble" Athos that absolutely wrecked D'Artagnan was hilarious. But Milady characterization as a femme fatale was so sad. Beyond belief. I could not believe the author did her such a bad turn and that she was sentenced to death. D'Artagnan should've been called D'Astardly because he was actually pure evil in forcing himself on Milady and using false pretences the second time.
The murders that the Musketeers commit is so numerous you couldn't count them on two hands and go unpaid. Meanwhile Milady kills one girl and gets condemned to death. Also it is insanity that she is punished with a "fleur-de-lis" for having had sex as a minor. It may be my modern sensibilities, but that branding led to her almost dying of hanging by Athos. Seems like a huge overreaction. This book could be a good companion novel to Just Mercy because the justification of her sentence of death was ludicrous and as soul-crushing as some of the examples in that book. After having read this book two things have been made clear to me: the death penalty is immoral, and dueling is injurious to health. Au revoir.
The murders that the Musketeers commit is so numerous you couldn't count them on two hands and go unpaid. Meanwhile Milady kills one girl and gets condemned to death. Also it is insanity that she is punished with a "fleur-de-lis" for having had sex as a minor. It may be my modern sensibilities, but that branding led to her almost dying of hanging by Athos. Seems like a huge overreaction. This book could be a good companion novel to Just Mercy because the justification of her sentence of death was ludicrous and as soul-crushing as some of the examples in that book. After having read this book two things have been made clear to me: the death penalty is immoral, and dueling is injurious to health. Au revoir.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Murder, and Sexism
Moderate: Infidelity, Pedophilia, and Misogyny
rahiho's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
deluciate's review against another edition
4.0
More fun to read than I expected for its age. Women don't fare very well in this story, but the swashbuckling musketeers come across as the superheroes of their time.
vinayv's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
danielgwood's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
timinbc's review against another edition
5.0
What a hoot! I remember reading this many years ago, but the older me liked it a lot more.
The three musketeers are four great characters. Yes, four - you'll see why. Add in several other very interesting characters and the book can't help but be good. Lay it all on a historical foundation. A few quick searches suggest that there's a lot more factual basis to this story than I thought. Buckingham and Milady were the real deal, and some sources suggest there was even more to the story than Dumas showed us. And as others have noted, one of the female leads is Really Nasty!
The interactions between the four heroes are written in a florid style that you may recognize if you've read Steven Brust's Phoenix Guards series, which openly admits to being a tribute to Dumas. But when we need plot events to move things along, they zoom easily.
The book's overall attitude is delightfully light-hearted, despite some grim happenings. I wonder if Dumas was the first to introduce the idea that heroes needn't worry about being shot at, because the bad guys will rarely hit them. Or that if people do get wounded they just carry on and eventually heal up.
The gentlemanly rules of dueling are fascinating. A guy stabs you through the body, then helps you to medical care while you congratulate him on his good swordplay.
I read the Gutenberg Project e-edition. It's a long book but the pages just fly by. Recommended.
And it will probably make you go and read some real history.
The three musketeers are four great characters. Yes, four - you'll see why. Add in several other very interesting characters and the book can't help but be good. Lay it all on a historical foundation. A few quick searches suggest that there's a lot more factual basis to this story than I thought. Buckingham and Milady were the real deal, and some sources suggest there was even more to the story than Dumas showed us. And as others have noted, one of the female leads is Really Nasty!
The interactions between the four heroes are written in a florid style that you may recognize if you've read Steven Brust's Phoenix Guards series, which openly admits to being a tribute to Dumas. But when we need plot events to move things along, they zoom easily.
The book's overall attitude is delightfully light-hearted, despite some grim happenings. I wonder if Dumas was the first to introduce the idea that heroes needn't worry about being shot at, because the bad guys will rarely hit them. Or that if people do get wounded they just carry on and eventually heal up.
The gentlemanly rules of dueling are fascinating. A guy stabs you through the body, then helps you to medical care while you congratulate him on his good swordplay.
I read the Gutenberg Project e-edition. It's a long book but the pages just fly by. Recommended.
And it will probably make you go and read some real history.
rainjrop's review against another edition
5.0
While I found The Count of Monte Cristo more compelling, The Three Musketeers is excellent. It's witty, has great adventure and comradery, and quite cunning villains.